Chapter 39: Explaining Physics to Mermaids
Rhine easily struck up a conversation with the curious mermaids surrounding them.
The “strange creature without a tail” briefly explained where they came from. After asking a few questions to confirm that the underwater kingdom wasn’t vastly different from its depiction in books, he began praising the Sea King’s might, the beauty of the palace and gardens, and the wisdom of the Sea King’s mother, the “Grand Matron.” He even complimented the elegance and nobility of the mermaid princesses.
His smooth mannerisms made him seem less like a first-time visitor to the underwater kingdom and more like a seasoned guide familiar with the place.
Before long, Rhine had won the mermaids over completely.
They chatted freely, and Rhine, like the learned mage from a storybook, answered the mermaids’ strange questions about the world above with ease.
For instance, one mermaid asked:
“Why can fish in your upper world swim even when they’re not in water?”
Aurora was utterly baffled.
Fish that don’t swim in water? We don’t have anything like that in the human world!Rhine, however, promptly explained to the young mermaid:
“In the human world, we don’t call those creatures fish. Although they do soar above our heads much like the fish here, we call them ‘birds.’ Birds can fly because they have wings, which interact with air much like fins and tails interact with water.”
Aurora was stunned and looked at Rhine skeptically.
How did you even know she was talking about birds?
Another mermaid asked:
“My friend who once ventured above the sea told me that in your world, the moon and stars appear smaller but brighter than they do in ours. Why is that? Do the moon and stars shrink when they see humans?”
Wait, the stars and moon are bigger in the underwater world? But they’re in the sky, aren’t they? What’s going on here? Aurora was completely lost.
Rhine, however, smiled patiently and explained:
“That’s an optical illusion caused by the refraction of light. In other words, your eyes are deceiving you.”
He went on to describe how the light from the moon and stars becomes dimmer when viewed through water, but their apparent size increases due to the way light bends.
To clarify, Rhine even took out some paper and sketched diagrams of light rays, angles of incidence, and refraction, explaining how light changes as it enters water. This helped illustrate the difference in perspective between mermaids and humans and the many issues arising from these differences.
Aurora barely followed Rhine’s physics lesson but was awed by her teacher’s vast knowledge. It also made her reflect on how the world contained such profound secrets—proof that seeing isn’t always believing.
The mermaids, however, were utterly confused.
Despite not understanding much, they marveled at what they considered to be deep and complex knowledge.
The human youth speaking with them must be an extraordinary scholar from the upper world!
“So, while we underwater beings don’t know much about humans, humans know so much about us!”
“I thought humans had little contact with us. I assumed they knew nothing about the Sea King, this underwater kingdom, or how we see the world!”
“Human knowledge is truly vast and profound. I can’t understand it, but it looks incredibly impressive.”
The mermaids expressed their amazement after chatting with Rhine.
Aurora, witnessing all this, mentally protested:
No, no, this isn’t right! My teacher can’t represent all humans! Most humans know nothing about the underwater kingdom, let alone study such fascinating topics like the difference between human and mermaid perspectives.
Turning to look at Rhine, who was engrossed in conversation with the mermaids, Aurora grew increasingly suspicious.
Teacher, are you sure this is your first time in the underwater kingdom?
She was certain that the kingdom’s records about the underwater world were sparse and entirely legendary. They didn’t mention anything about the Sea King or mermaid princesses, let alone the mermaids’ unique way of perceiving the world.
Even if humans had visited this underwater kingdom before, none could have adopted such a perspective!
Sensing Aurora’s confusion, Rhine explained while reminiscing:
“I once read a novel where the protagonist belonged to an aquatic race. The story described how ocean dwellers perceive the world differently from humans.
“I’ve tried to adopt their perspective to understand their questions better.
“In the novel, the author likened schools of fish to flocks of birds. It makes sense. Just as humans can look up to see flocks of colorful birds flying by, mermaids can look up to see schools of fish.
“The story also mentioned that the moon viewed from shallow waters appeared far larger than it does to humans.
“Years ago, when I first read that passage, I was astonished. I sketched out the light paths using my knowledge and studied it for ages to confirm the author wasn’t wrong.”
Rhine smiled as he spoke, his eyes reflecting a distant memory and a touch of longing for the days before he arrived on this continent.
After answering the mermaids’ questions, Rhine turned to their next inquiry:
“Why have you humans come to the sea?”
Rhine explained their purpose:
“We’re looking for the Sea Hag, a sea witch skilled in dark magic. We need her help with a small task. Surely you know where she is?”
The mermaids’ expressions immediately changed. Shocked and alarmed, they exclaimed:
“No way!”
“You’re looking for that sea witch?”
“Someone actually dares seek her out?”
“We merfolk wouldn’t dare approach her! Are you humans truly that bold?”
“Don’t go! She’s a terrifying figure who masters dark magic. Asking her for help will surely lead to trouble!”
The group of mermaids murmured anxiously, their earlier curiosity now replaced with apprehension.
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